Counting of votes in Karnataka began at 8 am on Tuesday, and initial results showed a close fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress, with the HD Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) leading in 30 seats, as per trends at 9:20 am. Sources told Times Now that Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati reportedly had a long call with HD Deve Gowda, urging him to take a stand against BJP “at any cost”.

Mayawati is said to have told Deve Gowda to look at the national picture in 2019, when the Lok Sabha elections are due to be held.   The BSP chief’s reported call to the JD(S) supremo came at a time when there are speculations of the Congress trying to reach out to the JD(S) for a possible alliance, in case of a hung assembly, sources said. 

However, if reports are to be believed, Deve Gowda, who is former prime minister of India and former chief minister of Karnataka, holds a grudge against Congress’ Siddaramaiah, “for the last three years. “  Sources said that Siddaramaiah, the current CM of the state, had upset Gowda after he had Gowda’s portrait removed from the CM office. Gowda had reportedly condemned the action, stating that he was the only Kannadiga to become the Prime Minister. Incidentally, reports said that Siddaramaiah had got the portrait re-installed in the office, though the action apparently did little to appease Gowda. 

Polling of votes for the 222 constituencies took place on May 12. Several exit polls had predicted a hung assembly in the state, with the JD(S) possibly playing the role of ‘kingmaker’  in the formation of the next government.